Eastern Oregon University’s Nightingale Gallery Presents “Plate Tectonics”: An Exhibition by Ceramic Artists Ryan W. Kelly and Peter Morgan, Opening Nov. 8

Eastern Oregon University’s Nightingale Gallery Presents “Plate Tectonics”: An Exhibition by Ceramic Artists Ryan W. Kelly and Peter Morgan, Opening Nov. 8

LA GRANDE, Ore. – Eastern Oregon University’s Nightingale Gallery welcomes ceramic artists Ryan W. Kelly and Peter Morgan to campus for an exhibition of their work entitled “Plate Tectonics.” The exhibit examines the humble kitsch object of the commemorative or souvenir ceramic plate. Both artists utilize this unassuming and ubiquitous trope of ceramic popular culture to explore the act of commemoration; what and who we commemorate, and the potential for this to be a vessel for critique. The exhibit opens on Friday, Nov. 8 at 5 p.m. with a reception for the artists.

Ryan W. Kelly, a lover of American history, especially as told through its decorative art, is responding to a recent research fellowship at Winterthur Museum and Garden, focusing on their extensive collections of 17th & 18th century American and British transfer-ware and commemorative objects. His fellowship deeply informed his work in the exhibition.

Peter Morgan draws upon his experience as an avid birdwatcher, amateur naturalist, and slightly obsessive collector (with a collection of over 200 plates) in his exploration of extinction. Utilizing gestalt philosophy this project combines these passions in the form of decorative plates. Be it the Labrador Duck, the Megalodon Shark, or PB Max candy bars, he believes many great things have come and gone and deserve to be commemorated in ceramic greatness.

Though friends and colleagues in the field for decades, this is the first two-person exhibition featuring Kelly and Morgan’s works. While the subjects being commemorated diverge, the two bodies of work are held together through the shared love of the absurd and decorative modes of display that call to mind vernacular collections and domestic interiors.

Ryan W. Kelly holds a BFA in Ceramics from the Kansas City Art Institute and an MFA from The Ohio State University. He is an Associate professor of Art at Western Washington University, where he heads the Ceramics program. He has an extensive background in ceramics including being a resident artist at The Clay Studio; a recipient of an Independence Foundation Fellowship, and a co-curator at Practice Gallery.

Peter Morgan is currently based in Carlisle, PA. He has an MFA in Ceramics from Alfred University and has exhibited throughout the United States and Europe. He has been a resident artist at the Archie Bray Foundation, The Northern Clay Center in Minneapolis and the Clay Studio in Philadelphia. He is also a founding member of the artist-run exhibition space Practice also in Philadelphia. Practice focuses its programming on performance, participation and experimentation.

“’Plate Tectonics’ is an exploration by Kelly and Morgan into the history and sentimentality of the souvenir collector plate. Each in their unique way pays homage to these objects and playfully questions what indeed deserves commemoration,” said Cory Peeke, Director of the Nightingale Gallery.

As an adjunct to the exhibition the artists will also present a public talk about their individual studio practices as well as the conceptual underpinnings of the exhibit. The talk will take place Thursday, November 7 at 6pm in Huber Auditorium, Badgley Hall. The public is encouraged to attend.
The opening reception for “Plate Tectonics” will be held from 5-7pm on Friday, November 8 and visitors may see the exhibit through Friday, December 6, between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information, follow the Nightingale Gallery on Facebook and Instagram.